Need parental control over sons electronics...

[faithmiller]

My son is getting to the age where I need to oversee his activity on his electronics...I am looking for parental control aps and software for my sons I-Pad and laptop. I would like them to have the capabilities to block adult content (yes, that content) and to have the ability to program a time limit for daily use (and possibly anything else I am not thinking of yet). Also, does anyone have any experience limiting, blocking, or just deleting You Tube off these devices? Seems the kids can find a bit of naughty things there as well.

 

[Nayan]

Google is your friend .

 

[Richard M Nixon]

I didn't grow up with iPads, but I've had the Internet in my classrooms from elementary school onwards and a computer at home since I was 5. Be wary. Kids are far more technically savvy than their parents, unless their parents are in the industry (and even then, not all the time). There is always a workaround. There is always a friend whose parents aren't as watchful. Exposure to the world is inevitable and sooner or later something you don't want them to see is going to be discovered.

I don't have kids, but if I did I would want to make sure that when they first see something more mature, it'd be with me providing guidance and explanation.

There's some good software out there that will help you out (I haven't experienced it so I wouldn't know) but don't let yourself believe that it'll be 100% effective.

 

[hsmamato2]

Good for you OP, just b/c kids know a lot today and are tech savvy doesn't mean that we parents can't stay connected to keep them protected as long as possible...google your options, and compare reviews. And keep talking with your kiddo- you will need that communication

 

[disneymomto5]

My daughter is in 5th grade. Last year we had a terrible cyber bullying incident and I had to get more control over her use of electronics. I loaded the net nanny app to her iPad (I did have to pay a little for it) and so far it has been good. However, she doesn't like it because it makes her feel like a "baby", but at this point I don't care. It's hard to get kids to understand the dangers of the internet.

 

[3disAddicts]

We use Net Nanny for my son's phone. Like a prior post stated, sometimes he too feels like he's being treated like a baby. But, I feel as though they are only with us for such a short period before they're grown and gone, so I'm just trying to give him the best start possible. Net Nanny can be glitchy, so you just have to be proactive in monitoring it and making sure it's doing its job.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

......Kids are far more technically savvy than their parents, unless their parents are in the industry (and even then, not all the time).....

This is so untrue. Plenty of parents are tech savvy, even those of us who didn't grow up with computers. I can assure you that I was always one step ahead of my kids!

 

[Marionnette]

This is so untrue. Plenty of parents are tech savvy, even those of us who didn't grow up with computers. I can assure you that I was always one step ahead of my kids!

Even if the parent is "tech savvy", their kids can be pretty devious. When my nephew got on Facebook (he'd been restricted from using it by his parents and counselors) using his iPod Touch. His computer and phone had already been confiscated because he broke the rules. My brother changed the password on his router so that his son could still have his iPod for games and music, just no texting or Facebook. The kid reset the router to factory settings that night by hitting the reset button. Then he could once again contact his "friends" and give them an alternative way of getting in touch with him when my brother discovered what he did.

A determined kid will find a way, no matter how many obstacles parents throw at them. A stupid kid, like my nephew, will get caught.

 

[wenrob]

The iPad you can lock down pretty tight with the settings. You can block specific websites, apps etc. You can block the internet entirely for that matter. Set up a pass code they would have no idea what to use. Make all accounts iCloud, iTunes etc. in your name and that only you have the password to. Make sure it's something so obscure they could never guess. I'm not sure what my husband has done on our PC but I know my kids can't make a move without Daddy having to come over and put in a multitude of passwords. And honestly, you have to stay on top of them. Check history and let them know you're doing it. If your kid is the type to reset a router, lock up the router. Have consequences for infractions. Show them real world examples of what can happen when you put yourself out there. iPads, computers, the internet are all luxuries and IMO should be treated as such. If they can't follow the rules, they simply can't use it.

 

[Marionnette]

The iPad you can lock down pretty tight with the settings. You can block specific websites, apps etc. You can block the internet entirely for that matter. Set up a pass code they would have no idea what to use. Make all accounts iCloud, iTunes etc. in your name and that only you have the password to. Make sure it's something so obscure they could never guess. I'm not sure what my husband has done on our PC but I know my kids can't make a move without Daddy having to come over and put in a multitude of passwords. And honestly, you have to stay on top of them. Check history and let them know you're doing it. If your kid is the type to reset a router, lock up the router. Have consequences for infractions. Show them real world examples of what can happen when you put yourself out there. iPads, computers, the internet are all luxuries and IMO should be treated as such. If they can't follow the rules, they simply can't use it.

The point that I was trying to make is that parents should not rely on apps and electronic nannies alone. You really need to keep on top of what the kids are up to. They can easily work around your restrictions. If you put app or net-nannies on their personal electronics, they will use a friend's device to by-pass your restrictions. If you place a digital limit on their computer time, they will figure out how to change the computer's clock so that the nanny thinks they haven't used up their time allotment.

 

[jackie101]

My son is getting to the age where I need to oversee his activity on his electronics...I am looking for parental control aps and software for my sons I-Pad and laptop. I would like them to have the capabilities to block adult content (yes, that content) and to have the ability to program a time limit for daily use (and possibly anything else I am not thinking of yet). Also, does anyone have any experience limiting, blocking, or just deleting You Tube off these devices? Seems the kids can find a bit of naughty things there as well.

we use mobicip for our kids ipods. It is free, you get it thru the apple store. then it allows you to put restrictions on and block certain sites. We got rid of safari, only pg shows,movies,music It isn't perfect but does help http://www.mobicip.com/parental-controls/ipod-touch

 

[wenrob]

The point that I was trying to make is that parents should not rely on apps and electronic nannies alone. You really need to keep on top of what the kids are up to. They can easily work around your restrictions. If you put app or net-nannies on their personal electronics, they will use a friend's device to by-pass your restrictions. If you place a digital limit on their computer time, they will figure out how to change the computer's clock so that the nanny thinks they haven't used up their time allotment.

I was pretty much agreeing with you. The best thing to do is keep on top of them. I do not have nanny apps on my kids devices but I do have them locked up tight as drum. Right now they are only eight so don't really have access to other kids devices and really have no idea of what they're "missing." Hopefully they'll have a healthy respect for the dangers of the internet by the time they're old/savvy enough to figure those things out. It worked for their older (now 18) sister, so I'm hoping it will sink in for them. Nothing is full proof but vigilance and education go a long way.

 

[MillauFr]

I am not concerned at all about my daughter's electronics. When I was her age (16) I was watching XXX films, downloading primers on how to make bombs, how to crack copyrighted software, how to make free phone calls, gambling at the track while underage, etc. My parents would have probably had a heart attack if they saw what was on my computer. Never got in a wee bit of trouble. I was an angel. Just very curious.

 

[BigAlsGal]

I'm just accepting that this is the world we live in. I agree with previous posters who say kids will find a way around whatever it is. They aren't stupid. Heck you're on the disboards asking what to use. You think your kids can't work the google? They could probably disable everything you put in place right after you install it. If they can't figure it out I'm sure they know someone who can.

Im dead serious when I say this. If my computer has a problem and my husband isn't around guess who I ask?.....my 11 year old son. He usually figures it out.

 

[fbb]

I don't have kids, but if I did I would want to make sure that when they first see something more mature, it'd be with me providing guidance and explanation.

Discovering porn with guidance and explanation from my parents would have been awkward.

 

[BigAlsGal]

Discovering porn with guidance and explanation from my parents would have been awkward.

 

[Richard M Nixon]

Discovering porn with guidance and explanation from my parents would have been awkward.

Oh yeah, it would have been awful for me too. I'm not suggesting sitting down and watching bangbus with junior at all. Context, however, would probably have helped shape some early views of sexuality. Especially when you're young and run across extremely violent, abusive, or highly fetishized content. Again, I'm not saying it's best to go through the list of kinks on Fetlife and describe them one by one, but my introduction to sexuality provided no context for different thoughts and ideologies on intimacy other than "it's to make babies". I know that it certainly gave me some negative views that took a good deal of time and several unfortunate experiences to be able to understand how to handle sexual situations.

Of course, there are some odd extremes out there too. There was a news article going around last month about sex-positive parenting that included the line "we don't play with our ***** at the dinner table". Check that out for the far-left viewpoint.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I am not concerned at all about my daughter's electronics. When I was her age (16) I was watching XXX films, downloading primers on how to make bombs, how to crack copyrighted software, how to make free phone calls, gambling at the track while underage, etc. My parents would have probably had a heart attack if they saw what was on my computer. Never got in a wee bit of trouble. I was an angel. Just very curious.

Watched a fair amount of scrambled "dirty" movies on cable growing up,lol. We also rented R rated movies and my reading was not censored at all. I am a productive member of society.

 

[brian95]

Ah yes scrambled adult movies I remember them well. Hey I think I see a ######## no wait thats a $$$$$$$ lol

 

[kalliyan1]

The problem we have found in looking for software/apps is that MOST of them will not track or block history, etc when searching in private mode. It also won't stop them from opening a private mode tab. The iPad/iphone have to be jailbroken.

We use covenant eyes on our electronics(apple but has other platforms too) and even that does not track private/incognito mode.

The one thing I have found and is a bit of a pain in the beginning is what a PP touched on. If you go into restrictions and block all adult content. You can always put in to block certain sites and you can put in to always allow certain sites. Other than that, if they go to a site that for whatever reason is not allowed, they will have to come to you to put the password in to allow it or deny it, and thats where the initial hassle comes in. ESPN for example is a blocked site so once we discovered it, we just "always allowed" it, etc. The thing I like about this the most is, they can't open up a private tab and they can't delete their browsing history! You can also restrict apps doing this as well which I highly suggest. You can allow them to install and/or delete apps or you can block them from both. We allow them to install with restrictions but they are unable to delete them. That gives us an idea as to what they are installing.

I know that we are not going to be able to protect our kids from the world but I'll be darned if I'm going to put the tools in their hands and make it easier from them to access it. We monitor our kids, etc but as someone else mentioned, they are smart and they can and do find ways around it, if they really want to. I would like to protect my kids as long as possible from exposure, which is really a full-time job, but worth it to us.

Good luck!!!